My “OBW” Method for Getting Outside Works Every Winter (And Makes Me Actually Like the Cold)

There’s a particular kind of winter quiet that settles in around January — a soft, heavy stillness that seems to press itself against windows that look out into a muted world of dull skies and bare branches. The idea of stepping outside feels like far more effort than it should be. Inside, the air feels warmer, and my home becomes a nest made of cozy blankets, soft lamplight, and familiar corners. Friends come over rather than us going out. And while I love that coziness, I’ve learned that too many days spent entirely indoors can make the season feel smaller and lonelier than it really is. 

A couple of winters ago, on a day when I couldn’t seem to shake that shut-in feeling and my mood had darkened to a similar shade as the sky, I forced myself to go outside and walk just one block. That small decision evolved into one of my most important seasonal rituals. Today, my “one-block walk” rule has become the gentlest, most effective way to get me out the door in the dead of winter. And it has helped me move more softly through those cold, gray weeks that arrive after Christmas’ warm sparkle has faded. 

My “one-block walk” rule came about on one of those classic gray January days when time doesn’t feel real. I had brain fog, was feeling extremely isolated, and couldn’t remember the last time I had gotten outside. I kept telling myself I should go out because I knew what I needed was a little bit of movement and fresh air, but I kept finding ways to avoid it. Going for a “real walk” just felt like too much. Finally, I negotiated with myself: one block, no more. Step outside, turn left or right, walk until the block ends, and come back. 

When I opened the door, I felt the familiar sting of cold air on my cheeks. My breath rose in front of me, wispy and soft. The street was still. I walked to the corner, my boots making a crisp sound on the frozen sidewalk, and suddenly the block didn’t feel long at all. I started to feel a sense of relief and clarity. It felt grounding — like I had pressed a reset button on myself. Without thinking, I walked another block, then a third, taking in the bare trees, the pale sky, and that hush that winter wraps around everything. 

I didn’t stay out long, but when I returned home, I felt more awake, more inside my own body, and more connected to the world beyond my cozy house. That satisfying feeling of doing something small but good for myself shifted my whole mood. Plus, the steps had helped me feel inspired again and dragged me out of a creative slump. Eventually, it became a habit. 

Walking one block — or committing to just one — asks almost nothing of me. It doesn’t feel like an assignment or a chore. It’s doable even on the days when the air is biting and the sky is low. It gets the coziest, sleepiest, bluest version of me out the door. And once I step outside, something shifts. The cold transforms from dreadful to invigorating, and the world feels softer than it looks from behind a pane of glass.

Most days, I walk farther than one block. My body wakes up, my mind stretches a little, and I feel present again. There’s just something magical about the fresh air, the reset, and the change in scenery. Even on the occasional day where I only walk a tiny bit, I still get the mood boost that comes from being touched by a bit of daylight and feeling part of the world for a few minutes. Just one block is enough. 

The point, however, isn’t the distance. It’s stepping into the rhythm of winter instead of resisting it. One block. That’s all it takes to loosen the heaviness that tends to gather during the darker, colder month of January. 

For anyone who struggles to get out during winter, the “one-block walk” rule is an easy, low-pressure wellness hack that actually works. If January has you feeling cooped up, a little down, or a bit frayed at the edges, try giving yourself this small goal. Bundle up in whatever makes you feel warmest, wrap a scarf around your neck, and step into the cold just long enough to feel it on your skin. Take slow steps. Look around. Meet the world again and let it open up around you. 

Some days you’ll want to keep going, and others you’ll head right back. Both count. Both help. And if one block is all you do, that’s enough. Keep in mind that it’s not about fitness, the number of steps, or productivity. It’s more like a winter kindness — a way of giving yourself the smallest possible nudge toward the fresh air and movement you’re craving without realizing. Sometimes, that one small step outside is exactly what makes the rest of winter feel a little warmer.